A Massachusetts man has been handed a prison term of three years and six months for sending a bomb threat to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State's Office, federal officials confirmed. James W. Clark, 40, targeted Katie Hobbs, then-Arizona Secretary of State, with a menacing online threat back in February 2021, said the U.S. Justice Department. Hobbs later clinched the governor’s seat in the 2023 Arizona election.
Clark's message, a sinister dictate demanding Hobbs’ resignation or the detonation of an "explosive device impacted in her personal space," prompted extensive searches by authorities, including Hobbs' own home, her vehicle, and her office in Phoenix. The ordeal led to the clearing out of the governor’s office, which was situated in proximity on the same floor within the State Capitol Executive Tower, according to Fox 10 Phoenix.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland weighed in on the sentencing stating, "Those using illegal threats of violence to intimidate election workers should know that the Justice Department will find you and hold you accountable under the law." According to court documents, Clark followed up his threat with online searches that hinted at ill intent towards Hobbs, including queries on "how to kill" and on the Boston Marathon bombing, reported the U.S. Justice Department.
The investigation, spearheaded by the FBI's Phoenix and Boston Field Offices, was a part of the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force. This initiative, launched by Garland in 2021 aims to protect election officials from threats and violence. The verdict comes as the task force continues its work well over two years after its inception, highlighting the ongoing effort to secure the safety of individuals essential to America's democratic process. Special Agent in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Phoenix Field Office underscored this sentiment, stating, "Election officials, their staffs, and volunteers are essential to our democracy and any threat to these public servants is completely unacceptable."
Clark pled guilty to one count of making a threatening interstate communication last August. The prosecution of this case underscores continued federal commitment to safeguarding individuals who uphold the nation's electoral integrity. As U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona affirmed, "As we head into election season, we thank the state and county election community who make democracy possible," demonstrating a stance against threats to the nation's electoral process.
